"Eh—Shichen? Didn't you just say… you weren't doing it for a reward?" Emilia couldn't help asking when he seemed to change his tune.
"I really wasn't. But since there is a reward on the table, why leave it there?" Shichen said, winking at her.
"This…"
"Relax—it's nothing outrageous. For Roswaal, it's easy to grant."
"Oh~ and what would that be? If you're asking for Ram and Rem outright, I can't agree to that~"
"Don't worry. If I'm going to win Rem over, I'll do it myself."
"I see. Then name your price. You're right—you did me a great favor. If it's in my power, I'll do it."
"Simple: let me stay here as a shikaku—a resident guest."
"Eh?" Emilia blurted in surprise.
Roswaal also stared at him as if he hadn't heard correctly. Rem and Ram exchanged incredulous looks.
"You mean… you want to be a resident guest?" Roswaal asked slowly.
"Yep. That shouldn't be a problem, right? You know my situation—I need to lodge here."
"This isn't a matter of 'problem' or not… That's all?" Roswaal asked, still unbelieving.
"That's all." Shichen nodded with a smile.
"Well, that's…"
"Pfft—" Emilia suddenly burst into laughter.
"Emilia, what's so funny?"
"Shichen… are you sure you have no worldly desires?" she said, barely holding back a grin.
"How can I have none? Room and board for free is plenty."
"Shichen, honestly." Emilia was delighted. Yesterday he'd helped her and only asked her real name—something trivial. Back then he didn't know how important his help was; but even now that he did, he only asked to be a guest. She didn't think he was clueless, so… did he truly want nothing else?
Why?
And hadn't he just patted her head again? Betty had called that the "head-pat kill"—praise, and… affection. So… was she being doted on?
At the thought, Emilia ducked her head shyly, unable to look at him. Her mind replayed him calling her cute, praising her silver hair…
"Aiya~ you really do surprise me, Shichen-san," Roswaal laughed, pleased.
"Surprise a man? Please don't—I don't like surprising men," Shichen said, waving him off.
"?" Roswaal didn't get it, but let it slide.
"In that case, I welcome you as a resident guest. You can even enjoy the same treatment as myself—my thanks to you," Roswaal said with a smile.
"That good?" Shichen blinked.
"Well~ you must know how important your help is to me."
As Emilia's sponsor in the royal selection, Roswaal was her backer. Shichen's help put him effectively alongside Roswaal.
"Hehe~ If that's the case, I'll accept," Shichen said easily.
"Chen, stop talking about trivial stuff and feed me," Betty finally complained, cutting in with a pout.
"How is this trivial?" Shichen said, giving her a bite of bread.
"Mmm—" After swallowing, Betty huffed, "Hmph! Roswaal was going to let you stay anyway. If not, I would have left with you—the library would be finished."
"My, my—who knew Beatrice would defect so quickly," Roswaal sighed theatrically. Beatrice was the administrator of his Forbidden Library; its books were hardly ordinary. Without a great spirit like her, it would be hard to guard.
"Who's 'defecting'? Don't say it like that. You and I are no comrades," Betty snapped.
"In that case, Shichen-san, you must stay for a while," Roswaal said.
"Don't worry. As long as Emilia's here, I'll be here a long time—unless she leaves."
"Shichen… y-you mean?" Emilia asked softly, cheeks coloring.
"What do I mean?" Shichen chuckled, answering with a question.
"Mm…" Emilia looked away, flustered.
"So it's for Emilia-sama that you'll be our guest—what about Ram and Rem?" Roswaal asked.
"That's part of it too," Shichen said frankly.
"Well then… I can only hope it takes you a while to win them," Roswaal sighed. The two in question remained expressionless; as maids, they didn't interject. Emilia kept her head down—unbothered by Shichen's easy charm, more overwhelmed than anything. In a world like this, being "too affectionate" wasn't much of a problem—as long as you were capable.
Once business was settled, breakfast—delayed by talk—continued. When they finished, Rem and Ram began clearing the dishes.
Holding Betty, Shichen glanced at Emilia dabbing her mouth and remembered something. "By the way, I get that Emilia is a bit airheaded and adorably pure—but why were you walking around the capital alone yesterday?"
"Airheaded?" Emilia wasn't sure what the word meant.
"I mean 'silly,'" Shichen said bluntly.
"I am not silly!" Emilia protested.
"Really? Then why were you out alone—and let your badge get stolen?"
"This…" Emilia had no comeback.
"I recall Ram was supposed to be with Emilia-sama," Roswaal said, turning to the maid at the sideboard.
"Uh-oh…" Ram froze mid-step, face going stiff.
"'Uh-oh'?" Shichen heard her mutter. "You weren't planning to bluff your way through, were you?"
"…" Ram held her tongue.
"Um…" Emilia raised a small hand, embarrassed. "It's not Ram's fault. I… gave in to a little curiosity, I suppose… We got separated without thinking…"
"Curiosity?"
"Mm. It was my first time going around the capital…" she said in a small voice.
"Sigh. Emilia, you really are a bit silly," Shichen said.
"I…"
"But regardless—it was Ram's lapse, wasn't it?" he added, suddenly serious, looking at Ram.
"…Yes. It was my failure. Please punish me," Ram said, taking responsibility without hesitation.
"Punish you? It's not my call—and Emilia would never punish you. How about this: teach me about the lay of the land here?"
"Eh?" Ram stared at him.
"What? You think I already know the capital?"
"No… Just—is that all?"
"What else? Did you want punishment? Don't tell me you're a masochist."
"Of course not!"
"Then that's settled. I really don't know much here… Is that alright, Roswaal?"
"Of course~ I told you: here, your standing is equal to mine," Roswaal said, smiling.
"Okay~ I'll go spend time with Betty first. Ram, once you've finished your chores, come to my room. Don't worry—it won't be just the two of us," Shichen said, carrying Betty toward the door; Est followed close.
"I understand…" Ram nodded slightly, watching him go. Rem, at her side, did the same.
Emilia had to study for her duties as a royal candidate, so Shichen and Betty continued their tour of the mansion, careful not to disturb her.
When the time seemed right, Shichen brought Betty and Est back to his room. As expected, Ram was already there—so was Rem.
"Rem, why are you here too?"
"I don't trust Sister alone, so I came to supervise," Rem said seriously.
"'Don't trust'… Do I look like that kind of person?" Shichen asked.
"You do. You already imagined humiliating us," Rem replied.
"I was teasing you!" he protested.
"But Sister's so pretty and capable—it's hard to believe you wouldn't have wicked thoughts," Rem said.
"…If I did, they'd be about you," Shichen said dryly, flicking her forehead.
Rem rubbed the spot, baffled. "Why me? Sister's better than me…"
"Think it over yourself. Ram, tell me about the capital," Shichen said.
"Yes," Ram answered.
"…" Rem fell silent, studying Shichen.